["In the House of Lords a Bill strengthening the power of
making Directors liable in respect of misconduct or neglect
in the winding-up of Companies passed its second
reading."--_Daily Paper._]
'Twas Ruin! And the Small Invest-
-Ors gyred and gimbled in despair;
Common as dirt were Shareholders,
But assets very rare!
"Beware the Jabezwock, my Lord!
The jaws that bite, the claws that dig;
Beware the Hobbs-hobbs bird, and shun
The saintly Guinea-pig!"
The Peer set out, his Bill in hand;
He had to be extremely leary
In tackling such an artful foe,
Whose weapon was _Suppressio Veri_!
And as he mused o'er blighted lives,
The Jabezwock, as yet unfloored,
Came snuffling piously to join
A meeting of its Board.
One, two! One, two! And through and through
All stages passed the Bill like winking;
And this is what the Peers just then
Most probably were thinking:--
"And have we scotched the Jabezwock,
And spoiled him of his false Prospectus!
O frabjous day! What Rad will say
That from this House he'd now eject us?"
'Twas Ruin ruined! And the dupes
Quite chortled such a sight to see;
The smug Director brought to book
Near to the Dividend Tree!
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